ABC’s of Publishing - About AgentsWritten by Lisa Hood
While there’s no Golden Rule to “Being Published”; it appears only way to get your foot in door is to have a respected literary agent hold it open. (I can’t count number of times my toes, and my ego, have been smashed.) Most of large NY publishing houses don’t accept unagented queries, and those that do will assign assistant editors to muck through slush pile. A good literary agent has spent years in publishing business, building relationships with editors, studying market, knowing what editors are looking for and which publishers specialize in specific markets or genres. They will be your guide and your advocate to publishing world. The trick is finding a good literary agent. By now you have probably heard many horror stories about disreputable agents. If not, do yourself a favor and read information at Writer Beware, http://www.sfwa.org/beware/agents.html. Be wary of any agent that charges an upfront fee, regardless of what they call it, or an agent that requires an author to use editing or marketing services as a condition of representation. Agents who make their money up front, as reading fees or marketing fees, or who receive a kickback from referrals, are not motivated to sell books. The anonymity of Internet provides an ideal environment for these creative con artists but it also lets us warn others. According to Writer Beware, here are few methods employed by dishonest agents:•Reading Fees – This practice, once seen with some reputable agents, has been abused to point it is now prohibited Association of Authors' Representatives for members. •Evaluation or Critique Fee - If you feel that you need a critique, why not hire services of a reputable editor? •Submission or Handling Fee – Good agents make money selling books, not selling contracts for representation. •Submission Expenses - Reputable agents don't routinely bill their clients out-of-pocket. These expenses may include a large number of manuscript copies, color printing, photos, etc. •Sliding scale of Fees - Good agents do as much work as is needed to sell a book, all for same 15% commission. •Selling "adjunct" services – Websites design, book cover design, illustrations, etc. etc. It's a conflict of interest for an agent to offer paid services. As you can see from this list, dishonest agents are as imaginative and creative as writers they swindle. Unfortunately, there are no licensing requirements, regulatory agency or competency standards for literary agents. One organization that self regulates literary agents is Association of Authors' Representatives or AAR. To become a member of AAR, an agent must meet certain criteria, years in business, number of clients, no upfront fees, etc. While there are no guarantees, your odds of selecting a reputable agent will be greatly increased if they are a member of AAR or similar organization. According to AAR, http://www.aar-online.org/faq.html, “Literary agents are listed in many sources, including Literary Market Place, a directory of publishing industry, which is available at most libraries. You may also ask for recommendations from editors, writing instructors, or fellow writers.” According to Susan Rabiner and Alfred Fortunato, authors of Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction -- and Get It Published, you can also locate an agent a your favorite bookstore: “…check out all book sections, to determine where your book would likely be shelved in that store. From that section, pick up a book similar to yours in content and presentation, one that you believe appeals to same reader your book will appeal to. Turn to "Acknowledgments" page, located either in front of book or back. The author will often thank his or her literary agent. Put that agent’s name on your list of possible agents.” There are two online services that may be of use, for a small fee. “The first is www.publishersweekly.com, and second is publisherslunch.com... they list each week’s new sales to publishing industry and name of agent who sold book.” The final suggestion offered by Rabiner and Fortunato is to attend writers’ conferences. Editors are usually in attendance and you can ask for their recommendation of a good agent. (This is also useful when you submit your query letter: “Mr. Editor suggested I contact you regarding my book…”) To contact an agent, write a short introductory letter which should be informational, no more than one page in length, to point and professional. Tell agent if your work is fictional, non fictional, include a sentence or two summarizing book and then a brief summary of your credentials. Do not make claims that your book will be next best seller, or comparisons to other works. Include a SASE (self addressed stamped envelope) if you would like a reply.
| | A Writing Exercise That Increases Awareness And Description SkillsWritten by Catherine Franz
Practice attaching words to feelings requires time to do. Without a system that helps you monitor that time, minutes or hours could feel unproductive. With right exercise, you can then use that time wisely, as well as save you time and frustration.Learning to apply right words to our six senses is a top ingredient to mixture of writing. Its language brings reader into story. All of us easily know how we feel, or what we're seeing (okay, most of time), what we're hearing, smelling, tasting, and sensing, and can usually explain it in 50 words if pushed to do it. But, how do you describe it in one or two words without pushing? Also, by beginning with good material, remaining part of writing process becomes easier. This exercise will help you improve your beginning. This is a simple exercise that you can do anywhere, anytime, in a space of minutes or longer. You can practice Monday mornings in garden, doctor’s waiting room, or in lunchroom. It can last as long as a television commercial (oops those aren't short any longer), or you more aggressively with a devoted 30-minutes a day. Whatever length of time or place you have, it will always improve your skill. You will want to sit while completing this exercise. Okay, let's start with most difficult spot, your supplies -- paper and your writing instruments. Landscape, portrait, small, or regular size sheet of paper doesn't matter. I define what paper size to use by amount of time available and my location. If I'm mobile, I use my small journal. If I'm at my desk or at home, I use a regular size paper. Sometimes lines, sometimes not. Sometimes exercise flows over to two or three sheets. Don't limit experience by paper size. Have fun with recording tools as well. Experimentation is key to our curiosity. And, curiosity is foundation of a writer. Draw a circle on page and place your name in center. Large, small, in color, black, or blue, again it doesn't matter. Use whatever flips your pancakes at that moment. In other words, whatever feels good at time. Your objective is to describe your five senses, six if you have that gift, with words. Write words that express that sense in space inside circle randomly around your name. Here is how you would use this exercise to increase environment awareness and description. Write your words in location on paper relevant to direction it appears. For example: I'm sitting outside my office on a 9th floor balcony at moment, I hear a heavy humming from tires on wet pavement below and birds chirping above me to right. I would place words for tires on bottom left and chirping on upper right on my page.
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